Maharashtra, such a beautiful state, it has so much to offer. While staying in Mumbai I often wondered what it would feel like to get away from the crazy city life. I wanted to discover the offbeat places and one of the places that consistently came on my search list was Karjat. So when I did my research on Karjat I found beautiful luxurious properties that just took my breath away and I could not wait any longer to pack my bags and head out to explore.
Tooth mountain farm is a 2 hours drive from Mumbai as well as from Pune. We took public transport so that I can share my experience of commuting in different ways to this place. Took a local train from Dadar to Karjat. The fast local train is your best option to reach Karjat sooner and auto rickshaws are available right outside the station.
Tooth Mountain Farms is a 20-acre boutique farm stay located next to ND studios on Karjat road. As I stepped into the property, the luscious green trees all around and beautiful flower gardens were a treat to the eyes.
It was so well organised that instantly I knew that somebody was in love with these plants to take care of them so well. The reception area is also the dining area. As soon as we reached in the afternoon we were served homemade lunch which was yum. I could not wait to explore but the hot summer sun did not let me do much.
This place has 5 uniquely styled suite rooms with attached bathrooms, a private lake, lap-pool, an art village and a plant nursery.
The farmhouse comprises of two structures – the main villa, which has 2 rooms (Palash and Parijat) and the outhouse, which has 3 rooms (Ashmantak, Amaltas and Basant Rani ).
The day of our arrival we were allotted Ashmantak. Everything was so beautiful.
There was a bookshelf inside my room the room was divided into two parts one the bedroom and the other one is a small sitting area with the view of the garden outside. Meaningful paintings and wall art decor enhance the beauty of this place. Huge windows for natural lights, I love the way architecture meets nature. The most interesting part of this room was the glass garden providing natural light inside the room. In the bathroom copper shower and buckets were used.
The main villa is where we have games, pool table, table tennis, dining table, hall and other common areas such as the TV room. The outhouse is located next to the swimming pool.
Each of the five rooms is named after a flowering tree that grows on the property. Parijat (colour code: White) is the ancient name for the Night-flowering jasmine is the biggest room, which has 2 double beds, and a single bed, located in the main villa. Palash(colour code: Orange) is the Flame-of-the-forest, which bloom and becomes a great attraction for exotic birds. This too is located in the main villa. Amalatas (colour code: Yellow) and Ashmantak (colour code: Purple) are Golden-Shower-Tree and Purple Orchid tree, both located in the out-house area. Our newest room is Basant Rani (colour code: Pink) or Pink Trumpet Tree also located in the out-house area.
This place has many open spaces to walk around. You can also play games like football and cricket but you have to carry your own equipment.
There is a beautiful swimming pool that can be accessed at any hour. A small kayaking boat floats in the pool in case you want to polish your rowing skills. The sunsets are so mesmerizing that each evening I would just dip myself in the pool and watch the pink sky.
Guests have accessibility to board games – like chess, carrom, monopoly etc.
One can also do a bonfire at night in the garden, every Saturday they organise barbeque as well for the guests. There is a music system in the Main Villa, which can be used, just plug in your phone and get grooving.
A stone’s throw away there is another property, it’s sister concern known as Art Village. Various activities are conducted over the weekends. Guest can participate in those activities like pottery, ceramics making, painting etc. at an extra cost. They also organise seasonal activities like the organic farming workshop, developing a farm to table restaurant, buying ducks, fish and chicken for eggs harvesting.
If you’re interested in riding a bicycle all around the property there are 5 bicycles in the compound which can be used by the guest. This property has in house dog, goat and a horse. So feel free to bring your pets as pets are also welcome in this property.
If you are thinking what are the nearby attractions – each season has its own beauty, but avoiding the summers, the monsoons and winter are meant to mesmerise you. One of the many nearby attractions are “Trek The Sahayadris” https://toothmountainfarms.com/trek-the-sahyadris/
There also many waterfalls and the ancient cave just a drive away.
This place will feed you organic food fresh from the farm. Not just fruits and vegetables but also the milk and eggs that are used are straight from purebred animals, no genetic modification. Very simple home cooked food is served. They offer both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Tasty thalis are usually fixed each day. The menu is updated daily on a blackboard for you in plain sight. If you want something apart from what is already planned you can put in a special request for it.
Kitchen is usually closed from 3 p.m. in the afternoon and then again from 10:30 p.m. at night. Like every other place outside food is not allowed but I don’t think anybody would require outside food because the food that is served in the restaurant is finger licking good.
This place is treated like a home away from home and not a hotel. The staff members are humble and loving ready to help you at any given time and situation.
This place has a lot of sentimental value for the people behind this place, it has a beautiful story to tell. It was a family farmhouse developed primarily for Neelam Sagar to keep her babies, her plants. She loves gardening and because of her interest in gardening, this land was bought by her son Shiv Sagar for a theme park project which never happened. It’s been 4 years since Tooth Mountain Farm was opened to guests. The name Tooth Mountain Farm was kept by his dad, Prem Sagar, Marketing Director of Sagar Arts. The Tooth Mountain Logo has been derived from the summit of Irshal (Vishal Gad).
Mention some interesting facts about the people who work in making this place a successful one.
Shiv Sagar
Having studied in the prestigious Swiss Hotel Management School, Les Roches, Shiv worked in many leading hotels of the world including the Renaissance in Zurich and ski resorts of Crans Montana plus the Leela in Mumbai, before completing his Bachelors of Science in Hospitality Management with Suma Cum Lade. On returning to India, Shiv successfully turned around a loss making a 50-room family hotel in Kullu-Manali called Sagar Resort. After travelling all over India for sales and marketing and managing the operations in Manali for a period of 5 years, Shiv branched into television production in 2008 with his first mythological tv series “Mahima Shani Dev Ki” on NDTV Imagine, going on to doing many tv shows and a 3-d movie under the banner of Sagar Arts.
He revived his interest in the field of hospitality again when he began Tooth Mountain Farms in 2015. His expertise in sales and marketing and passion for the business has resulted in a new concept of a “Boutique farm stay”, par excellence, at a driving distance from Mumbai and Pune. His former training in hospitality and experience on the field are responsible for the high standards of customer service which one finds at TMF. Shiv continues to do television production while balancing his life long passion in the hospitality industry.
Neelam Sagar ( Mother of Shiv Sagar)
The captain of our ship, Neelam, has over 40 years of experience in horticulture, the art of bonsai, flower arrangement and landscaping. She studied at the prestigious Ikebana Ohara Chapter, Mumbai till her 2nd masters, (this is an intensive 7-year course under her guru Lalita Kalmbi). After making several field trips to Japan to study landscaping and bonsai, Neelam did her Higher studies in the field of Bonsai under Jyoti and Nikunj Parekh and then under Sujay Shah. More recently she does Landscaping of commercial, residential and farm projects. She set up her Nursery in 2005, Tooth Mountain Nursery and under that, she has completed many prestigious projects including Yash Raj Studio and the residences of several film stars and producers like Aditya Chopra, Rani Mukherjee, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta, Parineeta Chopra etc. In the restaurant space, she has worked on all The Bar Stock Exchanges, WTF’s, Socials and Sassy Spoon. She has projects all over India. Through her intense study and skill, she has managed to grow orchids and high-end variety like ferns on dry wooden Karjat climatic conditions. It all started from a humble nursery, and she always says that the plants have given her so much.
All the plants and greenery one sees around Tooth Mountain is her doing. She is also responsible for the delicious home cooked meals, all of which are her recipes and the extreme cleanliness and overall management of the place due to her various skills she honed as a house-wife.
Some important rules to keep in mind while visiting this place are –
- Check-In time is 1:00 pm and Check-Out time is 11:00 am
- Breakfast – 9 AM- 10.30 AM
- Photo ID is mandatory on check-in.
- NO SMOKING in any of the rooms or enclosed areas. Smoking is permitted in all open areas and balconies only
- Strictly NO eating inside the pool and any bedrooms or bathrooms.
- Do not use glass near the pool area; you can request the staff for plastic glasses. Dogs and Pets not allowed inside the pool area.
- We have full-generator back up but it takes 5-10 minutes to switch it on manually, so don’t panic if the lights go out, it is common in this area.
- The Kitchen, Dining Tables, Verandah area and Hall with Television Set (all situated at the Main villa) are common for all guests staying on the property. Guests are requested to cooperate with each other.
- Please don’t create nuisance caused due to loud music.
- The staff will not be available post 11 PM at night for any services.
- The Kitchen will close Promptly at 3 pm in the afternoon and 10.30pm in the night. Outside food is not allowed.
- You can carry mosquito repellent. Your alcohol and mixers (if you like to drink). Towels and soaps are all provided in the rooms. Carry a book and don’t carry your worries with you.
- Guest are not allowed to use the kitchen.
I had a great stay, hoping that you will aswell in this awesome breathtaking property. Here are the booking details for you. Visit Tooth Mountain Farm and share pictures with me. I would love to hear from you.
To book your stay click here – https://toothmountainfarms.com/book/
Email us: info@toothmountainfarms.com
Call us : +91-9969 030 207
Photographer – Crackedpot Creatives
